Once you decide you want a tattoo, or another tattoo if you're like me, then let the searching begin. The biggest mistake you can make is to choose a design off the board - you know, one of those designs that look like clip art. Instead, find tattoo graphics that are out of this world, by looking at award winning ones and those that designers strive to create (choppers-tattoos is used by artists and laymen alike for tattoo graphics and designs). Once you have a handful of designs you need to take the graphics to an artist and ask them to work their magic.
When you choose your artist you want to see their portfolio and not of art work. You want pictures of people showing work of the artist so you can feel confident this person is qualified. If you show them the tattoo graphics you like and they try and alter them or change your mind, consider the idea you've got an artist in over their head and politely move on to find another one. No need to be a guinea pig or practice palate for an emerging tattoo artist. That's what to do with the graphics and I hope you take the time to do so, or else you'll get a standard design that other people could also choose and that isn't very unique.